Improvement in portable photographic dark-chambers



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

I. FLETCII WOODVARD, OF MGMINNVILLE, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC DARK-CHAMBERS,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,558, dated October 31, 1871,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I. FLETOH Woonwiinn, of h'lclllinnville, in the county of W'arren and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Portable Photographic Dark-ltoom 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description, to wit:

The nature of my invention consists in constructing an ordinary packing trunk or box with a door, a window, an eye-hole, a water-tank, and scape-hole, so that it will perform a twofold purpose-a packing trunk or box for carrying the apparatus and chemicals, and a dark-room for scnsitizin g, developing, toning, fixing, and washing.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I take an ordinary packing trunk and in the front side, at A in the accompanying drawin I saw out a door sufficiently large to admit of both hands and arms being insertedand turned about in it at the same time with all freedom. This opening is made near enough to the bottom, so that the same piece that was sawed out may be fastened back into the said opening with hinges at its lower side and a button at its upper side to keep it closed when in use as a packing trunk, and can be opened and let lie down on the licor when in use asa dark-room. Around the outside of this opening, 011 door A, I have a raised facing for stopping the shutter and for fastening' a pair of sleeves, which I make of some heavy thick cloth of some non-actinie color, as yellow or red, and secure them to this facing when in use as a dark-room. This facing may be fastened to the trunk at the lower side by hinges and the upper side by a button, similar to the shutter inside, so as to be opened and closed at will to enable the easy taking in and out of the plate-holder and other things while operating; or it may be securely fastened to the side, and they can be taken in and out at the top. Just above this doorway, at B,inthe top, Imakeasmall opening, just sufficient for the eyes to peep in in all directions, and it may or may not be shielded with non-actinie glass, for I A,find that I can see in the inside better by having my head and the trunk covered by a dark cloth, which does sufticiently shield the eyes and the opening. This opening may be in the side or on top of the trunk,just as it suits the convenience ofthe operator. In the back of the trunk, at C, I place a double window of nonactinie glass for illuminating; or it may be dispensed with and a lamp or candle be substituted. I shield this window with shutters inside and outside, which may be made to hinge or slide back. I make the shutter double for the inside, one placed above the other, so that a high or low light may be had for negative or positive work. Vhen used for packing purposes these shutters are closed and secure the window 5 but the window may or may not have glass as other transparent uon-actinic substances maybe used. This window may be placed in the top, the betteln, the sides, or the ends. At D I place a water-tank having ahook, which enables it to be removed and replaced at will. At E, in the bottom, is a small hole to allow the waste water to escape. F, thc sleeves detached.

The whole of the inside of this apparatus I thoroughly paint with red, yellow, or some nonactinic substance, shielding all openings by substances of a like nature.

I claim not a simple opening; neither do I claim any of my specified points, separately or disconnected from an ordinary truuk or box; but

I do cla-im- The door A, the double window C, and the simple eye-hole B as they are combined and applied to an ordinary trunk or box, in the manner and for the purposes set forth in my specifica tion.

I. FLETCH WOODWARD.

H. H. FAULKNEE. (111) 

